The Delhi High Court has denied bail to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and former MLA Naresh Balyan. The order, passed by Justice Manoj Jain on Monday, pertains to a case registered against him under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), 1999, concerning alleged organised crime activities.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that Justice Jain had reserved the verdict in the matter last week. Naresh Balyan has been in judicial custody since his arrest in December 2024 and is currently lodged at Mandoli jail.
The Delhi Police had invoked MCOCA against nine individuals linked to the Kapil Sangwan, alias Nandu, gang. This action, taken in October 2025, included former MLA Naresh Balyan and the brother of gangster Kapil Sangwan. The case stems from alleged conversations between Balyan and Sangwan that reportedly took place in 2023, leading to the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) in the same year.
According to the prosecution, Naresh Balyan, who previously represented the Uttam Nagar constituency as an AAP MLA, was allegedly involved in facilitating extortion activities for the gang. Investigations suggest he provided targets, including local builders, to the criminal outfit. This role reportedly came to light during a disclosure statement made by a co-accused.
The MCOCA, enacted in 1999, is a special law aimed at combating organised crime and terrorism. It provides for more stringent provisions for investigation, prosecution, and punishment compared to standard criminal laws. The Act allows for the forfeiture of property acquired through organised crime and imposes a minimum sentence of five years’ imprisonment for organised crime-related offences.
The case against Naresh Balyan involves allegations of his active participation in the criminal syndicate’s operations. The FIR was initially registered for offences under the Indian Penal Code, but the police later deemed it necessary to apply the provisions of MCOCA due to the alleged organised nature of the crime and the involvement of a known gang.
Prior to his arrest in connection with the MCOCA case, Naresh Balyan was reportedly implicated in four other criminal cases. The denial of bail by the High Court suggests that the court found the prosecution’s arguments regarding the gravity of the charges and the potential for organised criminal activity to be persuasive. The court’s decision will keep the former MLA in custody as the legal proceedings continue.
The invocation of MCOCA signifies a serious approach by law enforcement agencies in tackling organised crime in the national capital region. The Act’s stringent provisions are designed to prevent accused individuals from influencing investigations or continuing their criminal activities while out on bail.
The political implications of the case are significant, given Balyan’s association with the ruling Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi. The party has consistently advocated for law and order and has distanced itself from individuals facing serious criminal charges. The court’s decision is likely to add to the political pressure on the party as the legal process unfolds.
Further investigations are expected to continue as the police aim to build a comprehensive case against all alleged members of the Kapil Sangwan gang involved in organised criminal activities. The denial of bail marks a crucial stage in the prosecution of the case, reinforcing the legal framework against such offences.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
